Architecture is a mixture of many things -- engineering, function, cost, and an expression of artistic vision. Elements that contribute to that vision are often slashed in the first round of value engineering because it is regarded as a luxury item. Yet don't you wonder why almost every city of size boasts at least one art museum where people flock to see and share artistic visions?Success in architecture should be celebrated because it is a difficult thing to achieve. I think the light fixture in the space illustrated above is just great. Whoever designed the light fixture and whoever incorporated it into their designed did a wonderful thing. Click http://www.soft-architecture.com/international/shapes.html to find the source of this and other interesting fixtures.

San Francisco is blessed wonderfully preserved Victorian Homes. Many were "modernized" by stripping off ornate wood moldings and covering everything in plaster. Some added red mission tiles and pretended to be Spanish Colonial. When the charm of old Victorians were "discovered", many home owners started to restore their Victorians to their original glory. Restoring Victorians and "re-creating" a Victorian facade is a lot of fun. When you strip off the stucco, you will probably see the original wood siding and an outline of the stripped moldings. Using this as a guide, something pretty close to the original can probably be re-created.Others elect to do a "partial" restoration as in the photo above where the missing wood stair railing was replaced with a now "modern" steel and glass system. When done well, I usually like the contrast of old and new. Somehow, this solution makes me think of the renovations of an earlier era. Your thoughts?

The noted architect Michael Graves wrote about the Architecture and the Lost Art of Drawing in last Sunday's New York Times. He was a leading figure in the post - modern movement in the 1980's. At that time before computers were commonplace in architectural offices, designers designed by hand. Thirty years later, it is a vanishing art. Today, when I see student portfolios, few have hand drawings and even fewer are remarkable. Michael Graves argues that the engagement of the hand, eye, and mind produces something different than what can be created by computer alone. He goes on to say in the best of worlds, there is a combination of the two methods. I agree with this thought as too many times, I'll come across a building that seems to shout, I'm designed by computers using "short cut" copy, paste, align, and mirroring computer drawing commands.

Less is better -- because it concentrates on the essential aspects and the products are not burdened with inessentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity!

Dieter Ram's 10th principle addresses design on multiple levels in terms of philosophy and aesthetics. What does he mean by inessentials and does this change by culture and time? Who is to judge?I'm searching for good examples. Please stay tuned.

Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimizes physical and visual pollution throughout the life cycle of the product.

Bamboo Umbrella

The Brelli Umbrella An umbrella is not given a lot of thought until we need it. How many times during a rainstorm do we see the discarded skeletons of collapsed metal and fabric? Sometimes we need to look back at traditional methods and designs to see if new technologies are actually better. The Brelli Umbrella replaces the traditional lacquered paper canopy bamboo umbrella with a bio-degradable plasic film canopy. Light and flexible, bamboo is actually superior to steel in strong winds. The bamboo framework, refined over centuries, appeals to all the senses -- visually slender and graceful, smooth to the touch, fragrant when wet, and mellow sounding when struck. All compostable when its useful life is over.

#8Good Design is Thorough Down to the Last DetailNothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect toward the consumer.

Apple Store - 4th Street Berkeley

I've spent a long time trying to find a good example for Dieter Rams Principle #8 - Good Design is thorough down to the last detail. Apple products were the obvious example that came to mind, but I tried not to go with the obvious. Last week I walked into the Apple Store on 4th Street in Berkeley and decided to use the Apple Store itself. Everything about the store is designed with the customer's experience in mind. Everything is detailed to highlight the experience rather than detract. The front facade is transparent almost dissolving the barrier between inside and outside. What is apparent to the passerby is a gleaming space filled with multiple Apple products turned on and ready to be used. Almost always filled with people as sales representatives breeze by to answer questions and complete a sale on the spot without taking another step.

One of the many details I've examined in the Apple stores are the understated and elegant grey floor tiles. I first thought they were concrete tiles -- but there was a certain presence about them that made me want to stare. Finally I asked about them and was told they were granite tiles and Steven Jobs had a private quarry to maintain a consistent private supply of these tiles for his stores. That is attention to detail!

#7Good Design is Long LastingIt avoids being fashionable and there never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years -- even in today's throw-away society.

Thonet 214 Chair

The bentwood Thonet Chair 214 is over 150 years old and one of the first mass-produced products still in production today. A seamless integration of natural products and production techniques, the wood is steam-bent into the required shape. There are six parts to the chair that are screwed today making it easy to ship in a flat carton to be assembled in a distant location.The design has been around for so long, most people don't give it another thought and it seems to fit nicely into so many different places.

#6Good Design is UnobtrusiveProduct fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained in order to leave room for the user's self expression.

Steel Wok

This principle gave me pause for thought because of the addition of the terms, "neutral and restrained in order to leave room for the user's self-expression". Finally after considering several items, I decided to use a Chinese wok as an example of the principal. A wok has absolutely nothing extra added. Everything has a purpose. Curved high sides and thin carbon steel that heats quickly are perfect for Chinese cooking. From stir-frying, braising, simmering soups, deep frying, to frying an egg -- all can be done with this one simple item. The only change from the traditional wok is a slightly flattened bottom to better fit modern stoves.Round without any decoration and with two simple handles, that's it. With a wok, everything depends on the use and skill of the cook -- the ultimate self-expression. With proper care, the wok will ultimately develop a non-stick patina. Entire books have been written on the care and use of a wok, the most recent being, Breath of a Wok, by Grace Young. After I photographed this wok, I began to appreciate its simple form and refined design even more.

Good Design is HonestIt does not make a product more innovative, powerful, or valuable than it really is. It is not an attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.

Egg Beater

This old egg beater is a perfect example of "Good Design is Honest". It's simple and straight forward and is designed to do one thing only. Clearly it doesn't promise more than it can deliver and is elegant in it honesty.